Class Day 1: Quick Breads - Muffins and Scones

Maybe I will survive this after all! Granted I have to drive one and a half hours to get to class... it's nice to just have a day just to do what I REALLY want to do. (Traffic sucks, but it's LA - what can you do?)

And while I think it's not right to run rampant and share the recipes from class, I still want to share my baking successes and fails - and of course, what I learn from actually being in class with real instruction.

Blueberry Streusel Muffins

In the past I have had dense muffins - and apparently I overwork the batter. OOPS. So, while it's easy to mix wet and dry ingredients - its harder to know when to STOP mixing (at least for me). Stop folding the batter just when the dry is all incorporated. I mixed my batter pretty smooth and it seemed to have just SLIGHTLY sunk a bit in baking.

Currant and Orange Zest Scones

I KNOW I overworked the dough on this one. I could feel the butter just start to soften as I worked with it. But to be fair, I've made scones before with better success and the room was getting warmer as the ovens started going, etc etc. I liked the color that just a bit of orange zest added too.

A new place I found to start spending TONS OF MONEY each week is within walking distance of class.. WHAT LUCK! Surfas Restaurant Supply and Gourmet Food

Needless today, my first step in there I freaked out (similar to my candy warehouse adventure). Think Sur La Table+Williams Sonoma+Restaurant Depot... PLUS a cafe!

I'll document the next time I go... which would be next week, without a doubt!